Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Interviews/Reviews/Contests/More: www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com Breaking Up Is Hard To Do is a collection of four short stories all about the angered, pained, and revenge-seeking broken-hearted. First up is Burnham's story about Toby, who is always trying to please everyone else, but when he puts his foot down with his girlfriend, things don't quite work out. Terri Clark's Dee thinks she scored the social lottery when her goth self hooks up with a major jock, but when the two get into a car accident, Dee starts hearing people's thoughts and realize her boyfriend is one great actor! Next we have Ellen Hopkins, who gives us a short story a la poetry, like her previous work, about a girl named Lisa who feels that she's just plain, but what happens when she scores her first real boyfriend? Last, Sandoval delivers us a great story of Mia, who falls in love with straight girl Paige. Except, all summer long...Paige was in love with her too, right? When things blow up in a very public way, how will Mia face her peers, let alone Paige? Breaking Up Is Hard To Do took me awhile to finish, but it wasn't because it was a bad book. I actually enjoyed the stories immensely, and felt that even though you knew going in that they would all experience a break up, they still left much to be surprised by. I was also happy by the authors they chose to contribute, giving each story their own unique twist. Burnham focused on the only guy, Clark dealt with the unreal, Hopkins wrote in a unique way, and Sandoval dealt with the only same-sex couple. The book was an impressive collection of breaking up stories that will perhaps have you agreeing in sadness, but in the end, cheering with victory!

Breaking up: something no one ever really wants to do, but is sometimes inevitable. And four of the best authors out there sure can empathize. Niki Burnham, Teri Clark, Ellen Hopkins, and Lynda Sandoval regale readers with the breaking up woes in their uniquely different and realistic stories. There's Tobey, who breaks it off when his girlfriend pressures him to have sex with her, and Dee, who, after a nasty bump on the head, is now able to read minds. She calls it quits when her newly acquired powers reveal her boyfriend's true colors. Lisa experiences heartbreak when she finds that she was merely "practice" for her inexperienced guy before he moved on to prettier girls. And Mia experiences anguish and humiliation when she's betrayed by the pretty, popular girl. Each of these characters will speak to the reader as their story unfolds. The writing is straightforward and perceptive, from Clark's funny and fast paced style to Hopkins's beautiful and striking poems. This is one book that holds a powerful message between its two covers: heartbreak happens, and along with it is something better if you can let go and continue to move forward.

I don't think age matters when it comes to reading a great book. Just look at all the adults who have purchased and read the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series. I am 22 years old and I still love checking out the young adult section at my local bookstore. If I didn't I would have seriously missed out on such great titles like this one that has stories from some of my favorite authors like Nikki Burnham and Ellen Hopkins. I was recently dumped by my boyfriend so when I went to Borders to see what new books were available I saw this one. I was very curious to read what some of my favorite authors would write about break-ups. Although mainly the characters were dumped and didn't actually break-up with anyone, the betrayal that their boyfriends/girlfriends did was painful. These stories were nice, light-hearted reads that any 'dumpee' would love reading. I especially loved the way they (the characters) are able to get through the heartaches. They don't always end up finding a new love, but then again in real life you don't either, but the characters are left with positive feelings of brighter days to come. This book also introduced me to two great new authors that I've never read before (Terri Clark and Lynda Sandoval), and I am looking forward to once again checking out the Young Adult section for more books by them!!! Enjoy this book, it was really great and a very fun, fast read. I strongly recommend it!!! It's a fun, light-hearted book to read when you've just been dumped!!! :P

I'm far from being a teen, but I have two teenage granddaughters and want to be able to understand their world to some extent. I am an avid reader and have enjoyed a number of YA books. I especially enjoyed reading these four stories and the different voices the author's use. What I liked most about Terri Clark's story was the way the Dee and her friend Pixie devised a way to stop Rick and Phil from taking advantage of various girls in their school. You go girls! I know my grand daughter's are Ellen Hopkins fans and I have given several of her books to them as gifts. I know they will enjoy "Breaking up" because Ellen is a contributor. It will also introduce them to three other authors I know they will enjoy. I plan to keep my copy but will give copies to them to read. I think teens will especially enjoy this book. Each story both entertains, and a helpful message that teens can identify with. I recommend this book to all teens and those who are young at heart. Ballad of the Warrior Maiden

First love is the greatest thing in the world. Until it ends. When it does, you wonder if you'll ever make it. Or maybe you decide that guys are jerks and you pretend that it doesn't bother you. The truth is that breaking up sucks, especially the first time. No one likes to grow through it, but everyone loves reading about it. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO is the perfect short story collection to read about, well, breaking up. Four short stories, each by an amazing author, tell the stories of Toby, who loses his girlfriend because he won't have sex; of Dee, who realizes that her relationship was nothing but research for a book; of Lisa, who's changed by her boyfriend and then dumped because she was "practice" and not pretty enough; and of Mia, who realizes her girlfriend can't decide whether she's straight or gay and ends up hurting Mia in more ways than one. I don't read short stories very often, because I always want more -- but I loved each of the stories in this collection. Each story was unique and written in a very different style (one was even written in verse), but they all went great together. If I had to pick my favorite of these stories, it would have to be the story about Mia. I loved reading about the acceptance club at school and Wade was just amazing. I would definitely recommend getting this book as soon as it comes out. It's awesome. Reviewed by: Harmony